Process of introducing iron into foods, drugs, and beverages.



UNITED STATES HONARD L. MARSH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS OF INTRODUCING IRON INTO FOODS, DRUGS, AND BEVERAGE".

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ilounno L. Mai-ism, a citizen of the United States. residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania. hate invented a new and useful Improvement in Processes of Introducing Iron into Foods. Drugs, and Beverages, of which the following is a full,

, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to introduce metals, and more particularly iron. into beverages, medicines and foods. The introduction of iron into such si'lbstances through the medium of inorganic compounds of iron is old and Well known; but the serious objections thereto have been so well established and recognized and the supposedly good etfects'have been so counterbalanced by demonstrably harmful results that this method is generally deemed antiquated and impracticable.

Other methods of introducing iron into substances intended for human consumption have been devised which avoid the particular deleterious effects produced by inorganic iron compounds. Thus. solutions of compounds of iron and carbohydrates, and par ticularly a solution of the substance commonly known as ferric saccharate, have been utilized as agents for the introduction of soluble iron into foods, drugs and be era ges: but this method is open to other objections. chief among which is that there is produced a turbidity or precipitate of both the iron and some of the ingredients of the beverage. This effect is probably due to the fact that a solution of ferric saccharate is not only colloidal but impure, since there is more or less free alkali. present.

Another, and I believe better, method is set forth in mv application Serial No. 879.013, filed December 26. 1914. This method comprises passing an electric currentthrough an electrolyte of a solution of a re fined carbohydrate. specificall saccharosc, and through electrodes the anode of which is of iron. The resultant product. which also is colloidal, is more nearly free from im purities. as it contains nothing other than iron in some as yet not certainly known C0111" bination in solution in a. solution of oarbo hydrate. When this substance is added. to beer or other bererages in not too strong a solution, no permanent turbidity or precipitate is produced. It does, however. "when added in too large a quantity to some bev- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application flied December 5. 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 875,553.

crages. produce a turbidity, and also a. sweet ish taste which is undesirable in some cases. The turbidity. however, is not a serious objection. as it may be removed byfiltration and the iron present may remain in solution.

The object of my invention is to produce a substance still better adapted as a means of introdncin soluble iron into foods, drugs and beverages. The substance produced by my new process is nonrolloidal, does not :ause turbidity or precipitation when added in any quantity to pure water or any beverage, is entirely devoid of a ferruginous taste and (when added in the desired solution) is practically devoid of any taste wluiteverv When freshly prepared and not diluted it possesses a 51%;, it odor of burnt sugar, which disappears upon dilution.

1 have devised several alternative specific: Ways of carrying out the process. all. hoW- c 'cr. having certain features in common but some haying distinct advantages over oth- These I shall describe in suliicient detail to enable any one skilled in the art to successfully practice them.

In the preferred embodiment oi my invention, I take a solution containing a can bohydrate, preferably a solution of refined saccharose, and heat it under pressure to a high temperature. I then pass an electric current of appropriate strength and intensity through the substance as air elr-xctrolyte, employing as the electrodes. as one of them. particularly the anode. the metalordinarily iron which it is desired to introducc: this step of the process being substantially the process set forth in my said application Serial No. 865.687. A specific example of this preferable way of carrying out my process is as follows: 104) cc. of a saturated solution of saccharose was heated in an autoclave to a temperature of 300 degrees l for a, period of ten minutes. This resulted in partially caramelizing the solution. which had a Wine color and an odor of burnt sugar. It was then introduced into a glass cell about 19.5 cm. deep. 6 cm. ions and 1.7 cm. ividc. The electrod s were of common sheet iron 4-.5 by 11 cm. in sixennd were spaced apart a distance of about 1.5 cm. A. Clilttt current or" about no volts was established in one instance for two hours and in another instance for twenty hours. The result in each instance was a substance which 'iessessed the characteristics hereinbetore mentioned, being noncolloidal tastel and which comprises the steps of heating under pressure a. solution of a carbohydrate to a temperature of approximately 300 degrees F. and passing an electric current through an electrolyte of said solution and through ele trodes the anode of which is of the said moi (3 The process of preparing a carbohylrcte containing metal in a soluble form which comprises the steps of heating under pressure a solution of a. carbohydrate to a temperature between 212 and 250 degrees F.

and passing an electric current through an electrolyte of said solution and throu h electrodes the anode of which is of t e said 15 metal.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Pa., on this 25th day of November, 1914. 

